Preface

India has an ancient and long tradition of spiritual philosophy that has made great and lasting contributions to world culture. From the ancient Veda, the mystical Upanishads, and the teachings of yoga in the Bhagavad-Gita and Patanjali, Hinduism has inspired many people with its universal doctrines of justice and immortality of the soul implied in the theories of karma and reincarnation. The life and teachings of the Buddha founded a major religion that has spread throughout Asia and influenced western civilization, and Mahavira’s Jainism emphasized the important ethics of nonviolence. Literature and theater flourished in India during the dark ages when plays were not celebrated much elsewhere.

India suffered Muslim invasions and was dominated by the Mughal empire for two centuries. Indians have struggled with the lessons of religious tolerance. Nanak tried to reconcile the teachings of Hinduism and Islam by founding the Sikh religion. In the 18th century the British East India Company began to trade and gain power over much of the Indian sub-continent. While the Mughal empire was declining, the Marathas rose to power but could not unite India. In the 19th century British imperialism dominated India, bringing European culture along with its commercial exploitation.

The smaller nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands have their own fascinating histories of development under the influence of philosophies from India and China, followed by commercial interactions with Muslims and Europeans. Burma, Siam (Thailand), Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaya, and Java struggled for independence against the imperial power of the British, French, and Dutch. Filipinos and the Polynesians were especially influenced by Christian missionaries. By 1875 the British empire had extended not only throughout India but also into Australia and New Zealand.

All these histories offer us many lessons in ethical philosophy and development, especially in regard to the “clash of civilizations.” Many Asians have learned how to tolerate, integrate, or synthesize various philosophies such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, Confucianism, and Christianity. As globalization brings us all closer together, I believe we can gain wisdom by understanding the great contributions of these Asian cultures. India is surpassing one billion people and is the world’s largest democracy. People who want to be well educated can learn much from its ancient heritage and history.

To get an overview, readers may want to begin by first reading the last chapter, the Summary and Evaluation. The
Alphabetical Index of Names and the Chronological Index of Events also make this a useful reference book.